Bathing device

ABSTRACT

A MOBILE BATHING DEVICE FOR INVALID USE COMPRISING A WHEELED BODY WITH A SUPPORTING CHAIR THEREIN, WITH TRACK MEANS UPON WHICH SAID CHAIR IS CARRIED AND HYDRAULIC MEANS FOR MOVING SAID HORIZONTALLY CHAIR IN A FORWARD DIRECTION IN SAID BODY AND IN A REARWARD DIRECTION IN SAID BODY, WITH MIXING VALVE MEANS THEREIN FOR REGULATING THE TEMPERATURE OF WATER TO BE USED BY A PERSON UTILIZING SAID DEVICE, WITH A WATER MANIFOLD DISPOSED THEREIN FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO SHOULDER SPRAY MEANS, SHAMPOO SPRAY MEANS, AND SEAT SPRAY MEANS, SAID DEVICE HAVING DRAIN MEANS IN THE BOTTOM THEREOF FOR DICHARGING WATER THEREFROM.

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United States Patent 3,616,467 BATHING DEVICE John I. Drain, 906 Mulberry St., London, Tenn. 37774 Filed Jan. 30, 1970, Ser. No. 7,035 Int. Cl. A47k 3/08 US. Cl. 4-146 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mobile bathing device for invalid use comprising a wheeled body with a supporting chair therein, with track means upon which said chair is carried and hydraulic means for moving said horizontally chair in a forward direction in said body and in a rearward direction in said body, with mixing valve means therein for regulating the temperature of water to be used by a person utilizing said device, with a Water manifold disposed therein for supplying water to shoulder spray means, shampoo spray means, and seat spray means, said device having drain means in the bottom thereof for discharging water therefrom.

The present invention relates to a bathing device of a mobile type for use of invalids, including handicapped persons and the aged.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable bath which provides the invalid, handicapped and aged, with a complete comfortable shower, shampoo and sitz bath with a minimum of exertion for the patient.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable seat type of bathing device for invalid use that is powered by a water-operated hydraulic system which moves the seat embodied therein forward a sufficient distance beyond the front of the device or the chair upon which the person is seated in the device for easy seating of the patient, after which the hydraulic system then retracts the seat to a bathing position.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a portable seat type of bathing device for invalids which cuts bathing time and requires only one attendant and requires a minimum of care and is further designed for maintenance free use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bathing device that is provided with wheel means so that it is readily portable from one location to another, in homes, and in sanitariums, and in hospitals, and which is further provided with a locking rear caster means so that the bath may become stationary if desired.

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings and in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bathing device embodying the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bathing device of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 2 illustrating the bathing device of the present invention, and

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the lines 44 of -FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section taken along lines 55 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral generally designates a portable bathing device that is made of molded plastic material and which has the general configuration of a chair with opposite sides 12 forming the arms of the chair and a rear side 14 disposed to form the back of the chair with a movable seat 16 dis posed between the sides 12 on aluminum tracks 18. The seat is provided with a raised back 17 and raised arm "ice rests 19, as best seen in FIG. 1. The sides 12 and the rear portion or side 14 are made of double wall thickness so that they present a hollow configuration indicated at 20 in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which the water supply piping or tubing is disposed, as hereinafter described.

The bottom 22 of the device is molded of solid plastic material, as best seen in FIG. 4. The bottom has its upper surface 24 tapered downwardly so that any water that is discharged from the device will flow through the cylindrical drain 26 and out of the discharge pipe 28 extending out of the rear of the bottom 22.

Disposed in one side wall of the device are water supply pipes including a hot Water inlet pipe 30 and a cold water inlet pipe 32 which extend through the rear of the device and are provided with threads thereon, as is the drain pipe 28, for connection to a source of water supply. The same side of the device is provided with a mixing valve 34 to regulate the temperature of the water, and the mixing valve may be of any Well known type available on the open market, such as a Power Regulator Valve manufactured by the Powers Regulator Corporation, Skokie, Illinois.

The seat 16 has secured to its opposite sides a plurality of V-grooved nylon blocks 36 which are carried on the aluminum tracks 18 secured to the sides and rear of the device so that the seat 16 can be readily moved forward and rearwardly as desired. The lower rail or bottom channel 37 of track 18 also has a V-shaped configuration to conform to the V-shaped block. The seat 16 is provided with a downwardly depending skirt 38 adjacent the front end thereof, and a hydraulic plunger 40 is secured to this skirt. The plunger 40 is disposed in the hydraulic cylinder 42 extending through the rear of the device and secured thereto.

The mixing valve 34 is provided with a mixed water outlet or discharge pipe 44 which is connected to a water manifold 48 which is connected to a four-way valve 50 for actuating the plunger '40. The four-way valve 50 has a pipe 52 which is connected to the rear end of the cylinder 42. The four-way valve 50 also has a water inlet pipe 54 that is connected to the front end of the cylinder 42 for supplying water thereto. The four-way valve 50 is operated by the lever or valve handle 58 disposed on the outside of the chair, which has a neutral upright position, a forward position and a reverse position. The movement of the handle to the forward position will cause the valve to supply water through the pipe 52 to the rear end of the cylinder so as to cause the plunger therein to move forward and accordingly move the seat 16 in a forward direction. The movement of the handle 58 to the reverse position will cause the valve to supply water to pipe 54 adjacent the front end of the cylinder 42 so that the water pressure will move the plunger rearwardly and the seat 16 attached thereto will also move rearwardly and move on its nylon blocks in the tracks 18.

The manifold 48 is provided with a valve 64 which has a pipe 66 connected to the seat shower spray 68 illustrated in FIG. 4 to provide a sitz bath or shower. The manifold 48 is provided with a valve 68 that has a water supply pipe 70 that supplies water to a shoulder spray shower 72, comprising a plurality of shower heads disposed in the upper portions of the side walls as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. The manifold 48 is also provided with a valve 74 therein which has a pipe 76 connected thereto to supply water to a shampoo tubing and shower head indicated at 78 and attached to the side wall of the device, as best seen in FIG. 1. These control valves, 64, 68- and 74 are located on the outside of the chair, as best seen in FIG. 2. The four-way valve 50 is also provided with a discharge water tube or pipe 80 which is con- 3 nected to the lower portion of the side wall so that it can readily be drained into the bottom of the device.

The interior of the bathing device is made water tight by a flexible plastic curtain 82 that is provided with fasteners or snaps so that it can be buttoned or snapped across the front of the device, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Thus, for the foregoing description, it is apparent that the present invention provides a novel and inexpensively manufactured portable bathing device that can be readily used by an invalid or the handicapped or the aged, which has a comfortable shower, shampoo and sitz bath requiring a minimum of exertion by the patient.

The present invention further provides a portable bathing device that has a water-operated hydraulic system which moves the seat forward and rearward as desired.

In place of using plastic or plastic material where referred to herein, it is to be understood that other suitable materials may be substituted, such as fiberglass.

Inasmuch as changes may be made in the form, location and relative arrangement of the several parts without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention, it is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile bathing device for invalid use comprising a chair configuration having sides and a rear and a front forming a bathing compartment, a movable seat in said compartment for seating a person thereon, shower means in said compartment for discharging water therefrom,

and means for supplying water to said shower means said seat being carried by antifriction means attached directly thereto and disposed in tracks on said sides well above the bottom of said bathing compartment, and water operated hydraulic means provided sliding said seat substantially horizontally in a forward and rearward direction.

2. The bathing device of claim 1 wherein said bathing device is provided with caster means on the bottom thereof.

3. The bathing device of claim 2 wherein said hydraulic means includes a cylinder secured to said rear, and a plunger therein, having its front end secured to said seat and a four-way valve having an outlet pipe connected to the rear end of said cylinder and another outlet pipe connected to the front end of said cylinder.

4. The bathing device of claim 3 wherein said side walls and rear are of a hollow, double wall construction, and a mixing valve is disposed in said wall in communica tion with said water supply means, and a water manifold is disposed in said wall having a valve therein for controlling the supply of water to said shower means.

5. The bathing device of claim 4 wherein said shower means includes a sitz bath shower in said seat, a shoulder bath shower in said sides and a shampoo shower attached to one of said sides, and a lever on said side wall for operating said four-Way valve.

6. The bathing device of claim 5 wherein said chair has a bottom with a water drain and a water discharge pipe therein, and a flexible curtain is disposed across the front of said chair between said side walls.

7. The bathing device of claim 6 wherein said bottom is formed by a solid piece of plastic material.

8. The bathing device of claim 1 wherein said antifriction means are V-grooved nylon blocks.

9. The bathing device of claim 8 wherein said track has a lower rail with a V-shape configuration.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,641,770 6/1953 Chapin 4-146 2,697,475 12/1954 Dueth 4-l85 X 2,888,683 6/1959 Medlock 4185 2,977,604 4/1961 Miller 4173 X 3,010,116 11/1961 Cowley 4146 3,166,282 1/1965 Nolan 4185 X 3,169,253 2/1965 Segar 4145 3,447,166 6/1969 Gordon 4146 X 3,493,976 2/1970 Baker 4-173 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner D. B. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner 

